MEPs want to tackle the inequality between men and women at retirement age. The EU's average gender pension gap is around 40%. Much clearer: a new energy efficiency labelling system for household appliances is up for a vote in Strasbourg. The A to G label scale should replace the current A +, A ++ or A +++ categories. Parliament will question the Commission on its decision to relaunch the authorisation procedure for glyphosate. Experts are divided about the impact of this herbicide on health. The USA's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement is up for debate. MEPs will also vote on sharing the effort of reducing carbon emissions among EU countries in new sectors such as transport or agriculture. Lawmakers call on Belgrade, Pristina and Skopje to keep developing good neighbourly relations, to fight corruption and accelerate reforms on their path to the European Union.

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In the year’s final plenary session, the European Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, discusses the progress of Brexit negotiations, and votes on the extension of the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI). Also on the cards is a vote on recommendations for countering money laundering, and a vote on whether to allow phosphates in kebab meat.

Committees of the European Parliament are meeting to discuss youth employment in the EU, measures to control the flow of cash, the humanitarian situation in Libya, women and climate change and an EU wide disability strategy.

The European Parliament is calling for a gradual phase out of glyphosate, a substance found in common weedkillers and widely used by households and in agriculture. MEPs want a rethink of the farming model to include alternatives such as integrated pest management.

Parliament is voting on a number of measures to promote the use of renewable energy throughout the European Union and to implement a wide-ranging disability strategy. Up for discussion are the use of phosphates in kebab meat, and next year’s budget.